from the PHHA/Pocono

Wilkes-Barre PA — The father/son team of trainer Robert Bongiorno and his driver/son Joe combined with 13-1 shot Meadowbranch Lulu to win the $30,000 Pennsylvania-sired 3-year-old trotting filly feature Tuesday night (Oct. 27) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Curtis Salonick photo

Meadowbranch Lulu was a 1:54.3 winner on Tuesday.

The younger Bongiorno positioned Meadowbranch Lulu, a daughter of Explosive Matter, second behind pacesetting Reigningblackswan, then proved to be a “pocket rocket” down the stretch, overhauling the leader by a length, with Northern Grace seven lengths further back in third. The winner took a new career mark of 1:54.3 for owners John DeVito and Rocco Manniello.

George Napolitano posted five victories on the Tuesday Pocono card, bringing his North American-leading total to 704 for the year. His two nearest rivals, Aaron Merriman and two-time defending dash champion Ronnie Wrenn Jr., both raced at Cleveland’s Northfield Park on Tuesday bringing the 2015 score to Napolitano 704, Merriman 695, Wrenn 666.

After trailing his two competitors virtually all year, Napolitano grabbed the top with an incredible week of 32 victories last Monday to Sunday, posting 15 triumphs in three cards at Pocono and 17 in four cards at Harrah’s Philadelphia.